Black Friday shopping is like walking on a beach after a big swell: you never know what you’ll find laid out on the sand. To keep the metaphor going, Amazon’s Black Friday week is a hurricane that brings treasures from the deepest depths to the surface for all to see.
I’m not the biggest fan of what Black Friday represents, historically or contemporaneously, but that doesn’t stop me from sorting through Amazon’s Black Friday sale whenever it comes around. If I have to play the game of capitalism, I’d prefer to play it when everything I need to indulge my hobbies and habits is being sold cheap.
Amazon always throws a lot of deals at us during its Black Friday event, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options. Luckily, we’ve been around this block a few times, so here are our top ten finds from Amazon’s Black Friday 2024 event.
LEGO Advent Calendar 2024 Christmas Tree
LEGO has been a part of my life since I was old enough for them not to be a choking hazard, and my love for these collectible, connectable blocks has only ripened with age. I’m not the biggest fan of LEGO’s seasonal advent calendar sets, but I’d be lying to your face if I didn’t admit they’re a great gift idea.
This year’s LEGO advent calendaris a fully decked (to the halls, even) Christmas tree with attachable ornaments. ‘Tis not the season yet, but if stores can start celebrating the holidays early, so can you and the ones you love.
Yeti Rambler 20-ounce Stainless Steel Tumbler
Whether I’m hitting the gym or going on a long car ride, I like to have a travel cup full of water or tea on hand. The Yeti Rambler is one of the most reliable reusable cups out there, and a great deal onthe 20-ounce stainless steel Tumbler variantis happening right now.
The Yeti Rambler’s leakproof base and convenient sliding lip make it a fantastic to-go cup. Whether you buy it for yourself or as a gift to a friend or a partner, this cup will be well-loved and well-used.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
The Kindle is one of the best e-readers out there, and it comes in dozens of different versions with unique features and benefits. The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite already over-delivers on its promise to make reading off its screen as comfortable as possible, and its Signature Edition dials things up even further.
TheKindle Paperwhite Signature Editionhas everything that makes the base Paperwhite fantastic, but it also has more memory, a wireless charging feature, and an auto-adjusting front light. If you or someone you know loves to do some reading before you go to bed, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition will be a godsend.
Monopoly
Zoey Handley and Arka Sarkar did a fantastic jobexplaining why Monopoly is a great board game, so I won’t try to steal their thunder by parroting them. They also brought the outstanding Black Friday deal happening for the game to my attention, so I owe them a big thanks.
If you haven’t sat in on a game ofMonopoly, now’s the perfect time to remedy that fact. Seriously, it should be illegal for a board game to be this fun AND have this many unique versions.
Dungeons & Dragons Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons
Despite their place in the game’s title, I’ve played a lot ofDungeons & Dragonsgames that didn’t feature a single dragon. It can be tricky for Dungeon Masters to make their players feel like they’re facing off against a powerful and dangerous magical reptile, which is whyFizban’s Treasury of Dragonsis one my favorite D&D supplements.
This tome is full of ways to incorporate dragons into yourD&Dcampaign. From rules on how to roleplay both heroic and villainous dragons and tips on how to run combat encounters against the scaly beasts,Fizban’s Treasury of Dragonsis a must-buy for any tabletop role-playing fans who want to introduce a spice of draconic might into their epic adventures.
Sony ULT WEAR Over-Ear Headphones
I love to write at a local coffee shop and bookstore down the road from my place, but sometimes, the noise level inside is too high for me to focus. I already have a solid set of noise-canceling headphones, but I recommend theSony ULT WEAR over-ear headphonesto anyone who needs a pair.
These comfy headphones will fit snugly over most heads, and their impressive battery life means you won’t need to worry about them dying when you need them the most. They’re also compatible with iPhones, Androids, and most gaming laptops and consoles.
Castle Art Supplies 40 Piece Premium Drawing and Sketching Set With Tutorial
I’ve never been good at drawing, but putting pencil to paper and doodling what’s around or on my mind has always been therapeutic. When I finally took up sketching as a serious hobby, Castle Art Supplies provided one of my first art supplies sets.
Castle Art supplies’ premium drawing and sketching setincludes charcoal sticks, blenders, pastel pencils, and a wide range of sketching pencils. It even includes a little instruction book that teaches essential tips for improving your drawing skills.
Elden Ring for PS5
Elden Ringis one of those games that’ll never fade into obscurity in my lifetime. With theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC propelling the game back into relevancy (and even drawing some controversy), now’s the perfect time to pick up FromSoft’s latest masterpiece if you haven’t played it already.
The PlayStation 5 port ofElden Ringis one of the best builds of the game, and it’s on sale at barely twenty dollars. Amazon rarely includes games since it’s Black Friday events, so I’d jump on this deal while it’s here.
PowerA GameCube Style Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch
Many of the Switch’s best games are compatible with the system’s GameCube controllers, but these recreations of one of the best controllers ever built have a few issues. Luckily, independent hardware developer like PowerA have stepped up with their own Switch-compatible GameCube controllers.
PowerA’s wireless GameCube-style Switch controllerworks just like a genuine wireless GameCube controller, and they don’t suffer from the annoying input lag that plague Nintendo-licensed variants. It even has a cute little Mario mushroom emblem on it, so it won’t look out of place alongside the rest of your official Nintendo merch.
INSIGNIA 32-inch Class F20 Series Smart HD 720p Fire TV
No one wants to watch a movie on date night or play a game with friends on a glared, low-quality television set. Televisions aren’t cheap these days, but theINSIGNIA 32-inch Class F20 Series Smart HD 720p Fire TVis worth the price, especially when it’s reduced.
This model of the INSIGNIA Smart TV comes with a 720p resolution screen, in-built compatibility with Alexa and Apple airplay, and HDMI ARC sound. at well under one-hundred dollars, this is a deal anyone who wants to upgrade their entertainment center should consider.
PlayStation 5
ThePlayStation 5has been out from under the scalping community’s thumb for a while, so you can get your hands on Sony’s latest console for a fairly reasonable price now. To celebrate Black Friday, Amazon is offering PS5s at a reduced price. It’s only a fifteen percent price drop, but every little bit helps.
What makes Amazon’s PlayStation 5 Black Friday deal so outstanding is that it aligns with some fantastic PS5 game deals happening right now. Some of the PS5’s best titles are on sale cheap right now, so why not get the console for someone who doesn’t have it yet? If that someone is you, so be it.
Amazon Basics Classic Lined Notebook
Journaling is a habit I’d recommend to anyone and everyone. Writing your thoughts and observations is a great way to clear your head and teach yourself how to appreciate the world around you.
TheBasics Classic Line Journalis exactly what it sounds like: a solid hardcover journal you can take wherever you go. With two-hundred-and-forty pages, there’s plenty of space for you to fill with whatever you want.
